Hair curler



Filed Marchv 30, 1938 Nov. 8, 1938.

/0. i* la@ MW llllllllll/l f ABBIE G. BOWYER INVENTOI? Bymf 6252.4

-ATTOlM/ Y Patented Nov. 8, 1938 naar PATENT OFFICE HAIR CURLER Abbie G. Bowyer, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-fourth to Samuel E. Fouts, Los Angeles,

Calif. l

Application March 30, 1938, Serial No. 198,852

11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for curling or waving hair, the same having a core or mandrel upon which a tress of hair is wound and means associated with the core for retaining the wound-up tress until it dries or sets. In one form of my invention, this retaining means consists of a bail-like member which is pivoted at one end of the curler and is adapted to be swung into the axial plane of. the core to be latched at the opposite end of the curler. In another form the retaining means comprises a pad, preferably of sponge rubber, having a slot through which the tress is rst passed and is then wound on the core, after which the latter is attached to the pad. In that case, the pad serves not only as a retaining means, but as a cushion for the curler, enabling the wearer to sleep comfortably with the curler in position.

The element which is common to the two forms of my invention, and which I believe to be new, is the core or mandrel. This is a cylindrical brush, the same having many advantages over any other type of. mandrel known to me, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The objects of my invention are the production of a hair curler which is very eiiicient in use; which is easily applied; which is simple'in construction; which is economical in production; which will not damage the hair; which will not snap open and release the hair when a large tress is being curled, and which permits the curled hair to dry quickly.v These and other advantages are realized in thel embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken centrally through one form of my invention, showing the retaining means in closed position, as when in use; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views of details of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of. the pad and retaining member of that form of the invention that is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line 6 6 of Fig.4 7, and Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view on line 'I-l of Fig. 6. K

Taking up, first, a description of that form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, Il! and Ia are wires which are twisted together to form theaXis of a cylindrical brush, the bristles 'of `which are designated I I. While I prefer to use bristles made of stiff hairs, they may be made of other stiff bres or fine wires. It is to be understood, therefore, that I employ the term bristles in a generic Sense. These bristles are clamped midway their lengths between the twisted wires and-project radially therefrom, as is common in cylindrical brushes. As shown in Fig. l, the lefthand end of the twisted wires are rigidly secured in any suitable way, as by solder, within a central aperture in a cap or ferrule I2, the same having an annular flange I3 which projects to the right. At diametrically opposite points, this flange is provided with slots I4 which extend parallel with the axis of the brush. Projecting through these slots are the ends of the retaining member, the

latter consisting of a U-shaped wire I5, the sides of which are connected by the transverse part IS. Upon this part is a rotatable sleeve Il, the outer surface of, which is preferably knurled, as indicated in Fig. 4. This sleeve is provided with one or more apertures I8 in line with the wires IB and I Ba. These wires project a short distance beyond the bristlesand the projecting end is adapted to enter one of the apertures I8 when the sleeve is turned to the proper angular position. A simple aperture I8 will suiiice, but I prefer to have two, diametrically arranged, as in Fig. 1.

The retaining member is adapted to be swung about from its closed position of Fig. 1, through degrees, asindicated by dotted lines at the left.' Thepivoted ends of the member are attened, asshown at I9 in Fig. 2. When turned at right angles from the position of Fig. 1, these fiattened ends are readily insertable through the slots I4; but when the member is in either its closed or fully open position the ilattened ends are turned crosswise the slots Vand the ends cannot move outwardly. This is a feature of my invention which is of distinct advantage, as will be presently explained.

The curler is adapted for individual application at the home of the wearer or for use in beauty parlors'. In any case, a tress or lock of hair to be curled is segregated from the rest of the hair.

It is almost certain to be kinked or tangled from a previous curling and needs to be straightened out. Further, it should be dampened. The operator then swings the retaining member to the open position indicated in broken lines and dips the brush 'in water, or otherwise moistens it,

and, using the brush as a comb, straightens the hairs by a few strokes. This not only removes the kinks and tangles but meistens the hair without overwetting it. The last stroke of the brush is stopped just before the end of the tress is reached. The ends of the hairs are then pressed into the brush, the bristles yielding to this operation but gripping the hairs sufficiently to hold them. The brush is then rotated to wind the tress on it. W'hen the brush has rolled up the tress until it'has substantially reached the scalp,

the retaining member is closed, as in Fig. 1, and is latched in position by the sleeve Il, one aperture of which receives the end of the twisted wires of the brush. In some forms of. curlers, the loose lend of the tress is clamped to the core or mandrel, the ends of the hair projecting beyond the clamping member. In Winding the tress on the core, these projecting ends are often bent abruptly, and repeated use of these curlers results in breaking the hairs where so bent. No such damage follows the use of the brush core, since the ends of the hair are simply pressed between the bristles and are not abruptly bent. Further, by reason of the open structure of. the brush, which allows the air to reach the interiork of the curl, the hair quickly dries. of the curl is exposed to the air.

It Will be noted that when the retaining member is holding the curl it cannot snap open at its pivoted end, as happens with some other types of curlers. Therefore, because of the flattened ends i9, it is possible to handle a much larger tress than would otherwise be possible.

If desired, a pad or cushion may be interposed between the scalp and the curler to enable the wearer to sleep in comfort while the hair is drying. In my former application, Serial Number 169,821, filed October 19, 1937, I have disclosed and claimed such a pad or cushion. In itself, it forms no part of the curler shown therein nor would it form a part of the curler shown in Fig. 1 of this application. It would simply be used in combination with the curler. In that form of my present invention which is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the pad or cushion is a part of the curler, being the retaining member for the curl. Fig. 5 shows the pad or cushion, the same being an elongated piece of cushion material, preferably sponge rubber, with a slot therethrough. The pad is designated 20 and the slot 2|. It is soft and is of suicient thickness to alTord a comfortable cushion for the head of the wearer when sleeping. Preferably, the ends of the pad are rounded, as shown. Near its ends it is provided with perforations 22. Both ends of the twisted wires of the brush project slightly beyond the bristles. In using this form of my invention, the tress is iirst passed through the slot 2l of the pad, is then brushed and moistened and is wound upon the brush, all as in the rst form. Then the ends oi the twisted wires are inserted into the apertures 22 of the pad, as in Fig. 61. The pad 2Q requires to be stretched somewhat in doing this and the elastic pull of the pad holds the ends of the wires in the apertures.

While I have necessarily shown and described certain details of construction, I desire it to be understood that the following claims are not intended to be restricted to said details any farther than their express terms and the prior art require.

I claim:

l. A hair curler having a core or mandrel upon which the hair forming a tress is adapted to be Wound, saidcore comprising a cylindrical brush, and means for preventing the tress from unwinding.

2. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising an axis of wires twisted together and bristles clamped between the twisted wires and projected radially therefrom to form a cylindrical brush upon which the hair forming a tress is adapted to be wound, and means for preventing the tress from unwinding.

3. A hair curler as set forth in. claim 2 in which Of course, the outer side the bristles are clamped at their mid lengths and project equal distances but in opposite directions from the axis of twisted wires.

4. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising an axis of wires twisted together and bristles clamped between the twisted wires and projected radially therefrom to form. a cylindrical brush upon which the hair forming a tress is adapted to be wound, an element to which one end of the axis is rigidly secured, a U-shaped member pivoted to said element, and means thereon for engaging the opposite end of the axis to latch the axis and member together, said member, when thus latched, preventing the tress from unwinding.

5. A hair curler, as set forth in claim 4 in which the element is provided with a pair of slots in which the ends of the U-shaped member are pivoted, said slots extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the brush, and in which the ends of the member are ilattened to prevent their escape from the slots when the member is in position for latching, for the purpose specified.

6. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising an axis of wires twisted together and bristles clamped between the twisted Wires and projected radially therefrom to form a cylindrical brush upon which the hair forming a tress is adapted to be wound, a flanged disk rigidly secured to one end of said axis and having a pair of slots oppositely disposed in the flange thereof, said slots extending parallel to the axis, a retaining member having substantially parallel side arms and a transverse portion connecting said arms, the ends of said arms being flattened to enter the said slots when the retaining member is in one position but to prevent the escape of the attened ends fromthe said flanged disk when the retaining member is turned with the arms extending in the same direction as the axis, and a sleeve rotatable on the said transverse portion of the retaining member, said sleeve having an aperture therein to receive that end of the axis which is opposite the flanged disk, whereby the retaining member is latched to hold the tress from unwinding.

'7. A hair curler as set forth in claim 6 in which the latching sleeve is knurled on its exterior surface and in which the sleeve is vprovided with a pair of diametrically disposed apertures, for the purpose specified.

8. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising an axis of wires twisted together and bristles clamped between the twisted Wires and projected radially therefrom to form a cylindrical brush upon which the4 hair forming a tress is adapted to be Wound, one end of the twisted Wires projecting slightly beyond the bristles, and,a pad of cushioning material extending from the opposite end of the twisted wires, reaching over the brush and having an aperture to receive the projecting end of the wires, said pad serving to hold the tress from unwinding and as a cushion between the brush and the head of the wearer.

9. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising a cylindrical body portion and a rigid axis extending longitudinally and centrally through said body portion, and a pad of cushioning material having an elongated slot therein through which a tress of hair may be passed to be Wound upon said core and having also an aperture adjacent each of its ends, said pad being adapted to receive the ends of the axis in said apertures to prevent the tress from unwinding and to form. a cushion between the core and the head of the wearer.

10. A hair curler having a core or mandrel, said core comprising an axis of wires twisted together and bristles clamped between the twisted wires and projected radially therefrom to form a cylindrical brush upon which the hair forming a tress is adapted to be Wound, both ends of the twisted wires projected slightly beyond the brisl0 tles, and a pad of cushioning material having a pair of apertures adjacent its opposite ends for receiving the projecting ends of said wires, said pad having a central slot through which the hairs forming the tress are passed to be wound on the brush, said pad serving not only to prevent the tress from unwinding but as a cushion between the brush and the head of the wearer.

11. A hair curler as set forth in claim 10 in which the said pad is made of sponge rubber. ABBIE G. BOWYER. 

